Juan Pablo Montoya has suddenly become the hottest property in NASCAR, and folks at Michigan International Speedway would like to make the former Formula One star at home there as soon as possible. MIS management contacted Montoya’s new race team, Chip Ganassi Racing, on Tuesday to invite the Colombian to run both the ARCA Re/Max and Busch Grand National races at the Irish Hills track during the Nextel Cup weekend in August. Bill Janitz, MIS public relations director, confirmed contact with Chip Ganassi Racing. “We would be proud to welcome back an MIS champion in August, perhaps in an ARCA or Busch race, or both,” Janitz said. Montoya is booked to drive the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge, which Casey Mears will vacate, in 2007. As a NASCAR rookie, Montoya may need to have gained superspeedway stock car experience before he would likely be allowed to start in the Daytona 500, the first race of the series next season. He could do that at MIS Aug. 18-19, or at California in September or Talladega in October. “Michigan is big, fast and wide,” Janitz said. “It would make a lot of sense for Montoya to race here next month. He knows the track and he’s a winner at MIS.”(Detroit Free Press)
UPDATE: Juan Pablo Montoya is no longer competing in Formula One, but when he will start driving in NASCAR for Chip Ganassi Racing is still to be determined. Team owner Chip Ganassi said Wednesday he has not received the details of Montoya’s release from his McLaren-Mercedes ride in F1, and he does not know when the 30-year-old Colombia will be allowed to test and/or race. The owner said he hoped to have Montoya in a car by the middle of August.(SceneDaily.com)(7-12-006)
